Defence Minister Gabriel-Beniamin Les has had talks on Friday with the US Ambassador Hans Klemm, the discussions focusing on the cooperation on bilateral defence and within NATO, about the budgetary allocation for defence of 2% of GDP and about the development of the strategic partnership.
The defence Minister stressed that “the US involvement is capital for strengthening the defence and for the discouragement of any threats and risks against European security, especially on the Eastern flank of the Alliance.”
“During the meeting, the two officials have approached current topics on the regional and international security environment, as well as the directions to intensify the defence cooperation bilaterally and within the North Atlantic Alliance,” a Ministry of Defence release informs, as quoted by hotnews.ro.
Minister Les underscored the government’s strategic priorities in defence and security, focused on the commitment to provide 2% of the GDP for defence and stressed the importance Romania attaches to the development of the Strategic Partnership with the US.
The minister also stressed the importance of the US strong commitment and the presence of US military on the national territory, the essential involvement of the US to strengthen the defence on NATO’s Eastern flank.
Issues related to the implementation of decisions adopted at the NATO summit in Warsaw and the importance of the Black Sea for the entire Euro-Atlantic stability were also discussed.
“Ambassador Klemm has thanked for Romania’s essential contribution to regional and international security, underlining the operational efforts of the Romanian Armed Forces in Afghanistan, Iraq and other theatres of operations. The Ambassador reiterated the Washington authorities’ strong commitment to consolidate the defence within the Strategic Partnership, resulting in the increase of the US military presence in the region and in the intensification of bilateral programmes in terms of training and drills,” the MoD release reads.
photo: MoD